Effect



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. F SIMON. ADVERTISING OR OTHER ILLUMINATING EFFECT.- No. 499,150, IPatented June 6, 1893.

(No Model.) 4'SheetsSheet 2.

, H. P. SIMON. ADVERTISING OR OTHER ILLUMINATING EPFEGT.-

No. 499,150. Patented June 6, 1893.

-(No Model.) 4 Sheets--Sheet 3.

H, F. SIMON ADVERTISING OR OTHER ILLUMINATING EFFECT. No. 499,150.Patented June 6. 1893-.

(No Model.)

4 Sheets ,Sheet 4. H F. SIMON. ADVERTISING OR OTHER ILLUMINATING EFFECT,

Patented June 6.

UNITED STATES HORACE FRANCIS SIMON, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

PATENT OFFICE.

ADVERTISING OR OTHER'ILLUMINATING EFFECT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,150, dated June 6,1893.

Application filed November 1, 1892- Serial No. 450,689. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE FRANCIS SIMON, a subject of the Queen ofEngland, residing at London, England, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in or Relating to Advertising or other IlluminatingEffects, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the production of spectacular effects bycertain arrangements of moving lights and is suitable for advertisingpurposes and the like where such effects are required.

glass, paper, or the like.

I will describe the invention as applied to an illuminating andadvertising device it being understood that other applications of theinvention may be made.

Supposing that I desire to illuminate an advertising sign arranged intheform of a circle, the letters or devices would be arranged around orupon any suitable framework and either the whole of the letters or partsthereof would be open or transparent. For example, the letters might bemade entirely of glass either plain or semi-opaque, and transparent orcolored, or they might be made of an opaque outline with transparent orcolored centers of would be arranged a disk or frame carrying one ormore lights and preferably of the same diameter or length as thecircular frame to be illuminated, and adapted to be revolved by anelectric motor or any other suitable means. The lamp or lamps may beelectric lights or any other suitable light such as gas or the likepreferably inclosed in or located behind different colored globes,envelopes or screens. The efiect of revolving the lights behind theletters is to present the appearance of a much larger number of lightsthan are actually employed, and if run at a high speed an apparentlycontinuous illumination may be produced so that by this arrangement witha comparatively very few lights I am able to produce the appearance ofalarge number of lights or a large illumination.

Another way of carrying out this invention would be to place behindletters, constructed as above described, but arranged say in a straightline,a series of disks presenting their peripheries behind the lettersand each disk carrying at its periphery, one or more lights so as toproduce the effect of more lamps than Behind this frame I r are actuallyemployed, as in the previous instance. Other means may be employed fortraversing the lights,'as for example, they may be secured to orconnected with a traveling chain, band, or equivalent.

Any suitable means may be employed for producing a brilliant orvariegated efiect upon the letters as various colored glasses, papers,or the like, and if desired these may be left loose, as in the case ofpaper, so as to vibrate with the draft produced by the revolving frameor lamps behind, or they may be positively vibrated in any convenientmanner.

Instead of employing separate disks behind the letters I may employ asingle drum or equivalent or may hang thelamps upon arms extending froma shaft, or other means of a like nature may be adopted.

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 is a transverse section throughan electrically illuminated apparatus constructed according to thisinvention. Fig. 2 is a front view of the facia thereof; Fig. 3 a frontview of the frame carrying the electric lamps ,which are also shown inthis figure. Fig. 4: is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.Fig. 5 is a view partly in side elevation and partly intransverse'section of a gas illuminated apparatus constructed accordingto this inven-' tion, Fig. 6 being a front view of the burnercarryingframe thereof. Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section showing amodification of the electrically illuminated apparatus. Fig. 8 is anelevation with the facia removed of apparatus illuminated by fairylights. Fig. 9 is a front view of part of the facia of the apparatusshown in Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 is a transverse section of electricallyilluminated apparatus for illuminating two" facias.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

In the apparatus represented in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4,1 provide a facia Awhich may be of opaque material such as wood and have the letters A orother devices out out therefrom and which, as shown in Fig. 1, may bebacked with a sheet of colored glass A or other equivalent material; or,the facia may be constructed in any other desired manner, for example,the letters themselves being opaque and the body of the faciatransparent, or instead of a sheet of glass of one color through out thefacia A may be backed with one or more sheets orpieces of glass or othermaterial, such as paper, and the like, of various colors. This facia maybe mounted in a suitable frame or box B and at the back of it isarranged the device by means of which it is illuminated. As shown inFigs. 2, 3 and 4, this device may consist of a frame 0 formed with oneor more arms (four arms being shown in Fig. 3) or a disk secured to thepreferably flanged end D of a horizontal shaft D mounted in bearings Dsupported on a suitable base E.

To the front of the frame or disk 0 are secured electric incandescentlamps F F F at various distances from the center or axis of rotation ofthe frame or disk 0 so as to correspond with the various distances atwhich the circles of letters A are arranged from the center of the faciaA, and the globes of which are of various colors, or inclosed inenvelopes of various-colors. On the shaft D are secureda drivingpulley Dand two contact makers G each electrically connected by a wire G withall of the lamps F F F so that the current passing by a suitableconductor II may be passed through a brush II, through the appropriatecontact maker G, thence along wires G through the lamps F F F and returnwires G to the other contact maker G from which it is conducted by theappropriate brush II and conductor II back to the source of electricity.The contact makers may themselves be insulated in any convenient mannerfrom the shaft D as may also the wires G which preferably pass through apassage or deep recess D formed at the center of the shaft D. If desiredone or more metallic portions of the contact making surfaces of eitherof the contact makers Gr may be removed the continuance of the peripherybeing maintained by segments of wood or other equivalent material sothat at each revolution of the frame or disk 0 the circuit through thelamps may be broken one or more times. The shaft D is rotated bymeans ofthe pulleyD and band D by any suitable means such as by hand, an

electric motor, clockwork or other power. At

the back of each of the lamps F F F maybe arranged a reflectorFt In thearrangementshown in Fig. 5 the shaft Dis tubular throughout its lengthand is provided at its back end with a gland and stuffing box D by meansof which a tight joint is formed around the non-rotating gas supply tubeD as will be Well understood. The frame for carrying the lamps orburners in this example consists of a series of tubular rings 1 I 1(Fig.6) connected together and with the tubular shaft D by one or moreradial pipes or branches I and the burners J withor without reflectors Jare screwed or otherwise secured into the front face of the rings theirposition in relation to the axis of rotation of the ring being such thatthey will revolve immediately at the back of the various rings ofletters in the facia A. The tubular frame I I 1 Fig. 6, preferablycarries arms each adjacent to one of the burners .I for the purpose ofcarrying a sheet of colored glass or other transparent or translucentmaterial in front of the flame of such burner.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 7 the electric incandescent lamps F aremounted on arms projecting from a vertical shaft K supported in suitablebearings K and adapted to be rotated by the pulley D and band D by anysuitable motor. The lamps F are connected with the contact makers G insubstantially the same manner as before described in reference to thoseshown in Figs. 1 and 3 the brushes II and conductors II serving tocomplete the circuit through the lamps and electric battery or othersource of electricity. In this arrangement it will be seen that thelamps F rotatein horizontal planes the letters in the facia A being alsoarranged horizontally. One or more of the shafts K each with itscomplement of lamps F may be arranged in the same facia.

InFig. 8 the vertical shafts Ksupportedin and on bearings K are providedwith arms oneach of which is mounted a fairy lamp L and and each ofthese shafts K, of which it will be understood there may be one, two ormore, 15 connected with the horizontal shaft M, supported in suitablebearings M, by bevel gearin g M a crank handle M by means of which itmay be rotatedbyhand or with a pulley or equiva lent device by whichpower may be transmittedtoitfrom any suitable motor. The lamps L in Fig.8 rotatein horizontal planes and the lines of letters in the facia arealso arranged horizontally as shown in Fig. 9 to conform with thisarrangement.

In Fig. 10 I have diagrammatically represented the manner in which twofaciasmay be illuminated by one illuminating device. .In thisarrangement the disk or frameC carries a set' of lampsF at eachside, thelamps ends of the shaft D and each set of lamps so arranged as to partlyilluminate both of the facias.

It is preferred to rotate the before mentioned lamps at a moderatespeedbehind the facias so as to present an appearance of being highlyilluminated by a considerably larger number of stationary lamps thanis'employed,

the eye not being able to follow the lamps and consequently thesmallness of the number of the lamps will not be detected. By revolvingthe light behind a facia constructed of some what thick opaque materialwith the letters cut out, the device will appear to move owing to theshadows which pass over the letters. By inclosing the lamps in orproviding them with globes of various colors the letters will Thehorizontal shaft M is fittedwith appear to change colors; this resultmay be enhanced by placing materials of various colors in front of thedevice such materials for example as silk, glass, gelatine or the like.

By hanging the colored, transparent or translucent material Z looselyinfront of the back of the facia and revolving the lights behind the faciaat a somewhat quick pace an effective trembling or vibrating result maybe obtained.

The electrically illuminated apparatus may be so connected with theelectric motor for operating it that by one switch the circuit may becompleted through the motor for rotating the lamps and also through thelamps.

Instead of mounting the lamps on a frame or disk rotating in a verticalplane or arms rotating in a horizontal plane they may be arranged toswing as a pendulum or mounted on oscillating or reciprocating disks orequivalent or they may be mounted on a suitable frame reciprocated in astraight line either horizontally, vertically or obliquely; or the lampsmay be rotated in any convenient manner in horizontal, vertical oroblique planes. In other ways however the apparatus may be modifiedwithout departing from the essential features of the invention.

I claim 1. In an illuminating apparatus, the combination with astationary translucent device; of a series of traveling lamps arrangedat the rear of the device to transmit the light through the translucentdevice; substantially as described.

2. In an illuminating apparatus, the combination with the partlytranslucent device, of the series of moving lamps arranged to illuminatethe device and pieces of material attached to the device so that theymay be vibrated by the currents of air generated by the movements of thelamps, substantially as described.

3. In an illuminating apparatus, the combination with a partlytranslucent and partly opaque device, of a series of lamps arranged atthe rear of said device, supporting devices for said lamps and means formoving the supports and connections for supplying the illuminatingmedium to said lamps, substantially as described.

4. In an illuminating apparatus the combination with the partlytranslucent and partly opaque device, of a series of lamps of differentcolors, supports for the lamps, means for rotatingthe supports andconnections between the lamps and the source of supply for theilluminating medium, substantially as described.

5. In an illuminating apparatus, the combination with the partlytranslucent and partly opaque device, of a series of lamps of differentcolors, arranged at the rear of said device a support for said lamps inthe plane parallel to the device and means for rotating said supports,substantially as described.

6. In an illuminating apparatus the combination with a partlytranslucent and partly opaque device, of a series of electric lamps,arranged at the rear of said device a support for said lamps, ahorizontal shaft to which the support is attached, and electric contactscon': nected with said shaft and arranged to illuminate the lampssubstantially as and in the manner before set forth.

7. In an illuminating apparatus the combination with the partlytranslucent and partly opaque device, of a series of lamps arranged atthe rear of the device, supports for the lamps, means for rotating thesupports, and the reflectors arranged in relation to the lamps,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my I hand in the presence of thetwo subscribing witnesses. l

H ORAOE FRANCIS SIMON.

Witnesses:

ALFRED J. BoULT, HARRY B. BRIDGE.

